Rotary explosive-engine.



No. 822,952. PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

W. M. JEWBLL.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.20,1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

W. M. JEWELL. ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.-

APPLIGATION FILED APR.20,19 O1.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q E m .YHQH m mm w, H w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented June 12, 1906.

Application filed April 20. 1901. Serial No. 56,678-

To all; whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, WILLIAM M. J EWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to engines or motors operated by gases under pressure; and it consists generally in an improved type of engine involving certain novel arrangements of the piston, the chamber in which the piston moves, the gas supplying or generating ap aratus, and the valve mechanism contro ling the admission of the gas to the piston.

As regards the pistonrcarrying devices and the means for supplying gas to the piston my improved engine comprises a plurality of chambers, (preferably two in number,) one of said chambers being the iston-chamber and the other what may it; termed the valve-chamber. .In the piston-chamber is mounted a iston which moves in a circular path therein and is impelled by gas under pressure admitted to the iston-chamber at one side of the piston. he valve-chamber from which gas under pressure is supplied to the piston-chamber communicates with said piston-chamber and is provided with valve mechanism which controls and regulates the admission of the gas to said p1ston-chamber..

In the best embodiment of my invention the valve and piston chambers are arranged to intersect each other, so that the point at which the gas is admitted from the valvechamber tothe iston-cham'ber lies at the point of intersection of said chambers. The valve mechanism by which the admission of the gas to the valve-chamber is controlled moves in a circular path in the valve-chamber, so that it will be seen that the valve mechanism and also the piston move through the space common to the two chambers lying at the point of their intersect-ion. In order that this space may be reduced to a point where it will be substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the valve and piston chambers, said chambers are arranged in intersecting planeswhich out each other at right angles, as illustratedin the drawings.

The valve mechanism is arranged to supply gas under pressure to the piston-chamber 1mmediately after the piston passes the point of intersection of the two chambers and as soon as gas is supplied closes the piston-chamber, so that the piston is operated to a great extent by expansion. At thesame time communication is made between the istonchamber and'an exhaust-passage, so t at the Suitable mechanism is provided for purifying the explosion-chamber in which the gases are generated after each explosion and for supplying a fresh explosive charge.

illustrated my invention in its most improved form, and I shall now describe in detail the construct-ion as illustrated. I do not wish to be understood, however, as restricting myself to the specific details of the construction shown and described, since my invention'is not limited to such details of construction, except in so far as they are specifically claimed.

In the accompan ing drawings, Fi ure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertica section on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the valve mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, being a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail of the valve mechanism, being a vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail, being a section through the pistonchamher. on line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 11 indicate two annular c linders of equal cross-sectional area arrange; 'at'right angles to each other and so as to intersect at one point, as shown cylinder 11 is horizontally disposed; but this arrangement ma be varied. The cylinder 10 is supported y braces 12 on a base 13, while the cylinder 1 1 is supported by the cvlinder 1( at the point of their. intersection by a central standard or support 14 and by a standard 15, arran ed upon the base 13, as shown in Fi 1. he cylinder 10 contains an annular c amber 16, which will be hereinafter termed the piston-chamber by reason of the fact that in it is mounted a piston 17. Said piston consists of a segmental disk spent gases ahead of the piston may escape.-

In the accompanying drawings I havein Fi 1. In the construction shown the cylmt er 10 is vertically arranged, while the ioo havin suitable packing is at its ends, so as to ma ke it fit tightly in the piston-chamber in which it moves. The piston 17 is carried at the outer end of a radial arm 19, the inner end of which is mounted on a shaft 20, fitted in suitable bearings 21, carried. by supports 22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The shaft 20 is placed centrally of the cylinder 10, and as it is outside of the piston-chamber 16 a slot is provided in the inner surface of the cylinder 10 for the passage of the arm 19. The slot is closed to prevent the escape of the gases byan annular band 23, which fits closely in said slot and is packed by packing-rings 24 at each side thereof, as best shown in Fig. 7. The packing-rings 24 may be of any suitable construction, but are preferably of the spiral type, held closely in position by their clasticity. It will be noted that the band 253 rotates on the cylinder 10 as the piston 17 travels in the piston-chamber to; but, as above stated, the gases do not escape aroumlsaid band, owing to the presence. of the packingrin s 24.

n the construction illustrated the piston 17 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and it is driven by gases under pressure admitted to the piston-chamber innnediately after it: )asses the point of intersection of thecylimiers ltland l 1, the valve mechanism which controls the admission of the gases being arranged to )revent the gases from expanding upward after their admission to the piston-chamber.

The cylinder 11 is similar in many respects toithe cylinder 10 and contains a chamber 25, which for convenience of reference will be hereinafter termed the "valve-chamber, since it contains the valve mechanism by shown in Fig. 2.

which the gascswhich drive the piston are controlled. \Vithin the valve-chamber 25 is mounted valve mechanism consisting of three valve-sections marked, res')ectively, 26 27 28. Said sections are preferably made integral with each other and are. placed in the order illustrated. The section 26 is cylindrical in form and fits closely in the valve-chamber 25. The section 27 is more or.less semicylindrical in form and fits closely in the upper portion of the valve-chamber 25, as indicated in Fig.

. 3, but does not extend to the lower portion of said valve-chamber. The valve-section 28 is also more or less semicylindrieal in form and tits closely in the lower portion of the valvechamber 25, but does not extend over the upper portion thereof. The valve-section 26 is com aratively short. The section 27 is preferably about twice as long as the section 26, said two sections together occupying about sixty degrees of a circle. The section I 28 is considerably longer than the other two sections and occupies about two hundred and twenty-five degrees, more or less, making a space of about seventy-five degrees, more or less, between the ELdJiLCGDt ends of the secl tiOllS 26 and 28, as shown in Fig. at. Between the sections 26 and 27 is a disk 29, as shown in Fig. 3, said. disk being equal in diameter to the internal diameter of the valvechainber. There is also a disk 30' of the same size as the disk 29 between the adjacent ends of the sections 27 and 28 and a similar disk 31 at the free end of the section 28. The valvesections are carried by radial arms 32, which are mounted. on a shaft 33, arranged centrally of the cylinder 11 in suitable bea'rings 34 35 above and below the cylinder 11. The. bearings 34 and 35 are supported from. the cylinder 11 by spokes 36, as The arms 32 pass through a slot in the inner surface of the cylinder 11, and a band 37, similar to the band 23, is provided to close said slot, pzu-king-rings 38 being also provided to prevent the escape of gases. By rotating the shaft 33 the valvesections may be rotated in the valve-chamber, and in the construction shown they are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3.

39 40 indicate electric wires, the ends of which are arranged opposite each other in the space between the disks 29 30, which form the ends of the valve-section 27, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The opposite ends of said wires connect, respectively, with segments 41 42, carried by a disk 43, mounted on the shaft 33, as shown'in Figs. 2 and 3.

44 45 indicate brushes which bear against the periphery of the disk 43 and are adapted to make contact with the segments 41 42 as the disk rotates. Said brushes are connected with the poles of an electric battery or other suitable source ofelectric current and are so arranged that as the, disk 43 rotates a spark will be caused between the outer ends of the wires 39 40 at the time when said valve section 27 first reaches the point. of intersection of the valve and piston chambers, thereby igniting the mixer: gases contained in valve-section 27, as will be hereinafter described. v

46 indicates an exhaust-pipe, which opens into the upper part of the valve-chamber 25 at a point adjacent to the point of intersection of said valve and piston chambers and at the farther side of said point ofintersection with relation to the direction of movement of the valve-sections,

47 47 indicate exhaust-pipes, which open into the lower part of the valve-chamber 25, at points in the construction illustrated ninety degrees, more 'or less, from the exhaust-pipe 46.

48 indicates an inleta ssage, which opens into the under side of t 1e-valve-cl1an1l)er 25 at a point in the construction illustrated about one hundred and fifty degrees from the point of intersection of the two chambers. The inlet-passage 48 connnunicates with an annular chamber 49, having a central passhown in Fig. 5. i The conical valve 50 ismounted on a vertical shaft 51, which is adapted to rotate, as will be hereinafter described, and is provided with a vertical passage 52, which communicates with a passage 53, through which mixed gases are supplied from any suitable source.

54 55 indicate horizontal passages, which extend from the vertical passage 52 to the periphery of the valve 50. Said passages 54 55 are out of alinement, as shown in Fig. 5, and are adapted to communicate, respectively, with passages 56 57, opening into the chamber'49. By this construction asthe valve 50 rotates the passage 54 will register with the passage 56 only once for each complete rotation of the valve. Similarly the assa es 55 and 57 will re ister once for each rotation of the valve, and as the passages'54 55 register with the passages 56 57, respectively, at the same time gas is admitted from the'passage 53 to the chamber 49 once during each revolution of the valve'50. The shaft 51, which carries'the valve 50, is mounted in a suitable bearing 58, carried by the standard- 15, and is connected by miter-gears 59 60 with a horizontal shaft 61, from which it is driven. The shaft 61 is itself driven through miter g ears 62 and 63, the latter being mounts ed on a vertical shaft 64, mounted in a suitable bearing 65, carried by the standard 22, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 64 carries at its upper end a miter-gear 66, arranged horizontally, which meshes with a similar gear 67, mounted on the shaft 20. It will be seen, therefore, that as the shaft 20 is rotated by the rotation of the piston 17 the shaft 61 will be driven through the intermediate gears. The shaft 20 carries a pulley 68, by means'of which power may be transmitted from said shaft.

69indicates abeveled gear, whichis mounted on the shaft 61 and meshes with a similar gear 7 i), carried at the lower end of the shaft 33, so that as the shaft 61 rotates the shaft 33, and with it the valve mechanism, will also be rotated. The gears connecting the shaft 20 with the different parts of-the machine, as above described, are of the same size, so that all the valve mechanisms are rotated at the same speed as the piston.

I will now describe the operation of my improved engine. The piston and valve mechanism being in the position in Figs. 2 and 3 and moving in the directions there indicated there will be acharge of explosive gases in valve-section 27 in readiness to be ignited. Immediately after the piston passes the point of intersection of thetwo chambers the valve-section 26 will move past said point of intersection, bringing the valve-section 27 ing passages 56 and 57.

wires 39 40, exploding the gases in said valvesection 27, which thereupon rush into the piston-chamber above the piston. They cannot, however, escape in an upward direction since the valve-section 27 will act as a barrier, closing the upper portion of the pistonchamber at that point. The object of the valve-section 26 is to prevent the gases formed by the explosion from driving under the disk 29 as said disk passes over the point of intersection of the two chambers and escaping into the valve-chamber 25 or out at the exhaust 46. As soon as the valve-section 26 passes the point of intersection of the two chambers it closes the exhaust 46, which, as heretofore stated, opens into the upper portion of the valve-chamber 25. As soon as the disk 30 arrives opposite the point of intersection of the two chambers the valvesection 28 will come into action. As here tofore described the valvesection 28 covers only the lowerportion of the valve-chamber. Consequently as it passes over the point of intersection of the two chambers it closes the lower passage into the piston-chamber and opens the upper passage thereinto, so that the spent gases in advance of the piston can pass downward from the piston-chamber into the valve-chamber above the section 28, and thence pass out through the exhaust 46, which is opened as soon as the disk 30 moyes beyond the port leading into said exhaustpassage. This situation continues during a considerable period of the rotation of the piston, and so long as it continues the piston is operated by expansion. When the valvesection 27 arrives at the exhaust-passages '47 47 any unused gases in said valve-section are permitted to escape through said exhaust, and, if desired, fresh air may be supplied to said valve-section by directing a current of air through one of said pipes. By this means also the valve-section 27 may be cleansed, since a current of air may be blown therethrough by directing a blast in through one of said exhaust-pipes, as 47, when it will pass through the valve-section 27 and out at the I otherexluiust-pipe 47 As long as the valvesection 28 lies over the ports of the exhaustpipes 4747 they are closed, and air cannot enter the valve-chamber. When the valve section 27 reaches the passage 48, it will receive a charge of explosive gases from the valve-chamber 49, the latter having received a charge from the passage 53 by reason of the coming into alinementof the passages 54 and 55 in the conical-valve 50 with the correspond- The valve-section 27 thus having received a fresh charge of explosive gases will carry its charge around to the point of intersection of the twochambers, where it will be exploded and the operation above described repeated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a singlecharge is exploded for each rotation of the'piston. If it should be desired to explode charges more frequently, a plurality of pistons may be employed at suitable distances apart and operated by a plurality of valve-mechanisms or by a single valve mechanism, such as that described, rotating at a higher rate of speed. For example, if two pistons were used arranged one hundred and eighty degrees apart two valve mechanisms similar to that above described, arranged one hundred and eighty degrees apart and rotating at the same rate of speed as the piston or a single v'alve mechanism rotating at twice the speed of the piston, could be employed. Similarly various other modifications and arrangements of my improved engine can be made.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular iston-chamber intersecting said valve-cham )er, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying gas under )ressure to said valve-chamber, and means or admitting gas from said valvechamber to said piston-chamber to drive said piston, substantially as described.

2. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular iston-chamber intersecting said valve-chamber, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber,

and traveling means insaid valve-chamber for admitting gas intermittently to said piston-chamber to drive said piston, substantially as described.

3. A as-engine, consisting of a ring-sha ed valve-siamber, an annular iston-cham er intersecting said valve-cham er, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber, and means in said valve-chamber for admitting as from said valve-chamber to said piston-c lamber, substantially as described.

4. A gas-engine, consisting of a ring-sha ed valve-chamber, an annular piston-chem er arranged to intersect said valvechamber, said valve and piston chambers being arranged at an angle to each other, a piston in said pistoncham er, means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber, and traveling means in said valve-chamber for admitting gas from said valvecl1amber to said pistonchamber, substantially as described.

5. A gas-engine consistin of a ring-shaped valve-chamber, a piston-chamber intersecting said valve-chamber and lying in a plane intersecting the plane of said valve-chamber at an angle, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber, and traveling means for admitting gas from said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber.

6. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber intersecting said valvechamber at right angles, a piston in said piston chamber, means 'for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber, and traveling means for admitting gas from said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

7. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber intersectin said valve-chamber, traveling valve mec lanism in said valve-chamber, a traveling piston in said piston chamber, means for supplying gas to said valve-chamber, and means foro erating said valve mechanism to admit gas rom sald valve-chamber to said piston-chamber,.substantially as described. 4

8. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber intersecting said valve-chamber, traveling valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, a traveling piston in said piston-chamber, means for admitting gas to said valve-chamber, means for exploding the gas in said valvechamber, and means for admitting exploded gas from said valve-chamber to said pistonchamber,substantially as described.

9. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber, a traveling piston in said piston-chamber, and traveling means in said valve-chamber for supplying gas under pressure from said valvechamber to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

10. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber, a revolving )iston in said piston-chamber, revolving valve mechanism in. said valveehamber for admitting gas therefrom to said piston-chamber, and means for supplying gas under rcssure to said valve-chamber, substantia ly as described.

11. A gas-engine, consisting of a ringshaped valve-chamber, a piston-chamber, means for generating gas under pressure in said valve-chamber, a piston in said pistonchamber, and means for admitting the gas so generated in said valve-chamber to said pis ton-chamber before expansion, substantially as described.

12. A gas-engine, consisting of a ringshaped valve-chamber, a ring-shaped pistonchamber intersecting said valve-chamber, means for generating gas under pressure in said valve-chamber, a revolving piston in said piston-chamber, and means for admitting the gas so generated in said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber before expansion, substantially as described.

13. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber, means for generating gas under pressure in said valve-chamber, a revolvin piston in said piston-chamber, and revolving valve mechanism in said valve-chamber for admitsaid valve-chamber, a revolving piston in said piston-chamber, valve mechanism in said valve-chamber for admittin gas therefrom to said piston-chamber, an means operated by the rotation of said piston for operating said valve mechanism to supply gas under pressureto said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

15. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, an annular piston-chamber intersecting said valve-chamber, means for generating gas under pressure in said valvechamber, a revolving piston in said pistonchamber, valve mechanism in said valvechamber for admitting gas therefrom to said piston-chamber, and means operated by the rotation of said piston for operating said valve mechanism to supply gas under pressure to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

16. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular valve-chamber, a'piston-chamber, gas-transporting valve mechanism in said valve-chamer for moving a body of gas therein, a piston in said piston-chamber, and means for operating said valve mechanism to admit gas under pressure to said piston-chamber at .intervals, substantially as described.

17. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a valve-chamber intersectingsaid piston-chamber, a piston in said piston-chamber, gas-transporting valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, and means for operating said valve mechanism to admit gas under pressure tosaid piston-chamber at intervals, substantially as described. V

18. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a valve-chamber intersecting said piston-chamber, a piston in said piston chamber, means for supplying unexploded gas to said valve-chamber, means forexploding said gas in said valve-chamber, and gas-transporting means for supplying the exploded gas from said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

Y 19. A gasengine, consisting of intersecting annular cylinders, one of said cylinders formin a pistonchamber, a piston therein, the other forming a valve-chamber, valve mechanism therein consisting of valve-sections 26 27 28, means for supplyin gases to said valve-chamber 27, means %or igniting the gases therein, and means for rotating said valve mechanism, substantially as described. 20. A as-engine, consisting of intersecting valve an piston chambers, an exhaust-passage communicating with said valve-chamber adjacent to said point of, intersection, valve mechanism in sald valve-chamber consisting of valve-sections 26 27 28, means for rotating said valve-sections, means for admitting gases to said valve-section 27, means for igniting said gases, and a piston in said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

21. A gas-engine, consisting of intersecting valve and piston chambers, an exhaust-passage communicating with said valve-chamber adjacent to said point of intersection, valve mechansm in said valve-chamber consisting of valve-sections 26 27 28, means for rotating said valve-sections, means for admitting gases to said valve-section 27, means for igniting said gases, a piston in said pistonchamber, and an exhaust-passage 47, sub stantially as described.

22. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a piston therein, a shaft mounted outside of said piston-chamber and connected with said piston, a valve-chamber, and traveling gas-transporting means in said valve-chamber for admitting gas under pressure to said piston-chamber at intervals, substantially as described.

23. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a shaft mounted centrally thereof, an arm carried by said shaft, a piston in said piston-chamber connected with said arm, a valve-chamber, and traveling gastransporting means in said valve-chamber for admitting gas under pressure to said piston-chamber at intervals, substantially as described.

24. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a shaft mounted centrally thereof, an arm carried by saidshaft, a piston in said piston-chamber connected with said arm, a rotary band secured to saidarm and rotating with the piston, and traveling gastransporting means in said valve-chamber for admitting gas under ressure to said piston-chamber at interva s, substantially as described.

.25. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber, traveling gas-transporting valve mechanism mounted in said valve-chamber, an external shaft connected with said valve mechanism for rotating the same, means 0 erated by said piston for rotating said sha t,

and means for Suppl. ing gas to said valve-- chamber, substantial y as described.

26. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber communicating with said pistonchamber, a valve-section in said valve-chamber adapted to receive ases and conductthem to the piston-chamier, means for exploding the gases in said valve-section, a passage for admitting gases to said valve-section, a passa e for cleansing said valve-section, and means or rotating said valve-section, substantially as described.

27. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber, traveling gas-transporting valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, an external shaf t connected with said valve mechanism for rotating the same, means operated by said piston for rotating said shaft, means for supplying unexploded gas to said valveehamber, means for exploding the gas in said valve-chamber, and means for operating said valve mechanism to supply exploded gas from said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

28. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber intersecting said piston-chamber, traveling gas-transporting valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, an external shaft connected with said valve mechanism, means connected with said piston for rotating said shaft, and means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-chamber, substantially as described.

29. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber, a traveling,valve-section in said valvechamber, formin a compartment adapted to contain gas to lie exploded, means for moving said valve-section in said valvechamber, means for supplying an explosive to said valve-section, means for exploding the gas therein, and means for discharging the exploded gas from said valve-section to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

30. A gas-engine, consisting of annular valve and piston chambers intersecting each other, revolving valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, a revolving piston in said piston-chamber, means for operating said valve mechanism to admit gas to said pistonehamber, and electric mechanism for exploding said gas, substantially as described.

31. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber, revolving valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, said valve mechanism having means for receiving and transporting an explosive gas to said piston-chamber, and means carried by said valve mechanism for exploding said gas, substantially as described.

32. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonehamber, a piston therein, an annularvalvechamber, valve mechanism in said valvechamber, said valve mechanism having means for receiving and transporting an explosive gas to said piston-chamber, and electric mechanism carried by said valve mechanism for exploding said gas, substantially as described.

33. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonehamber, a piston therein, an annular valvevchamber, valve mechanism in said valveehamber, said valve mechanism having means for receiving and transporting an ex plosive gas to said piston-chamber, and electric mechanism carried by said valve mechanism and operated by the-rotation thereof for exploding said gas, substantially as described.

34. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber intersecting said piston-chamber, revolving valve mechanism in said valvechamber, said valve mechanism having means for receiving and conducting gas to said piston-chamber, and means for exploding the gas, said valve mechanism being arranged to close the piston-chamberbehind the piston after the admission of the gases thereto, substantially as described.

35. A gas-engine, consisting of apistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber communicating with said pistonchamber, a valve-section in said valve-chamber adapted to receive and conduct gases to be exploded to said piston-chamber, and

means for passing a current of air through said valve-section, substantially as described.

36. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, a rin -shaped valve-chamber communicating with said piston-chamber, a revolving valve-section in said valve-chamber adapted to contain gas to be exploded, means for supplying gas to said valve-section, means for exploding the gas in said valve-section, and means for moving said. valve-section in said valve-chamber to conduct the exploded gas to said pistonchamber, substantially as described.

87. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, a ring shaped valve-chamber communicatin with said piston-chamber, a traveling val ve-section in said valve-chamber, forming a compartment adapted to convey gas under pressure to said piston-chamber, means for supplying gas under pressure to said valve-section, and means for moving said valve-section in said valvechamber to convey the gas therein to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

38. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, an annular valvechamber communicating with said pistonehamber, a traveling valve-section in said valve-chamber, said valve section being adapted to discharge gas under pressure into said iston-chamber, and a valve-section movable in said valve-chamber and adapted to cut off communication between said valve and piston chambers, substantially as described.

39. A gas-engine, consisting of a piston chamber, a piston therein, an annular valveehamber communicating with said pistonchamber, a traveling valve-section in said valve-chamber adapted to discharge gas under pressure into said piston-chamber, means for supplying unexploded gas to said valvesection, means for exploding the gas in said valve-section, means for movin said valveseetion to discharge the exploded gas into said piston-chamber, an: a valve-section in said valve-chamber adapted to confine the exploded gas in said piston-chamber back of 1 the pistonimniediately after the exploded gas has been supplied to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

40. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, a piston therein, an annular valve-chamb er intersecting said piston-chamher, a revolving valve-section in said valvechamber adapted to discharge gas under pressure into said iston-chamber, and a valvesection in sai' valve-chamber adapted to close the passage through which the gas was admitted to said iston-chamber immediately after the admission of the gas and connect the iston-chamber in advance of the piston wit an exhaust-passage, substantially as described.

41. A gas-engine, consisting of a ringshaped piston-chamber, a valve-chamber intersecting said piston-chamber, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying an explosive gas to said valve-chamber, means for exploding said gas therein, and means for admitting the exploded gas from said valvechamber to said piston chamber, substantially as described.

42. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, an annular valve-chamber intersecting said piston-chamber, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for su plying an explosive gas to said valve-chamber, means for explodin the gas in said valve-chamber, and means %or admitting the exploded gas from said valve-chamber to said piston-chamber, substantially as described.

43. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular piston-chamber, an annular valve-chamber, a piston in said piston-chamber, means for supplying an explosive gas to said valvechamber, and means in said valve-chamber for receiving and. transporting the exploded gas to said piston-chamber and discharging 1t thereinto, substantially as described.

44. A gas-engine, consisting of an annular iston-chamber, an annular valve-chamber intersecting said iston-chamber, a piston in said piston-cham er, means for supplying an explosive gas to said valve-chamber, and means in said valve-chamber for receiving and transporting the exploded gas to said piston-chamber and discharging it thereinto, substantially as described.

45. A gas-engine, consisting of a pistonchamber, a piston therein, a ring-shaped valve-chamber, traveling valve mechanism in said valve-chamber, said valve mechanism having means for receiving and transorting an explosive gas to said piston-chamer, and means for exploding the gas, substantially as described.

WILLIAM M. JEWELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. JACKSON, HELEN M. COLLIN. 

